Ashton Kutcher’s Bold New Role in ‘The Beauty’ and Its Surprising Connection to Ex-Wife Demi Moore
Ashton Kutcher’s Bold New Role in ‘The Beauty’ and Its Surprising Connection to Ex-Wife Demi Moore
Ashton Kutcher, the once-revered heartthrob of Hollywood, is making a striking comeback with a role that diverges from his usual charming persona. In Ryan Murphy’s latest venture, The Beauty, Kutcher embraces a darker, more antagonistic character, delving into the realms of body horror and vanity.
The Premise of The Beauty
The official trailer for The Beauty was released on January 5, sparking a surge of interest in the FX science fiction body horror series. The show’s intriguing logline, “one shot makes you hot,” hints at the dark and twisted narrative that awaits viewers.
Set in the high-stakes world of high fashion, The Beauty explores the sinister consequences of a sexually transmitted virus that transforms ordinary people into visions of physical perfection. However, this pursuit of beauty comes with terrifying repercussions, as international supermodels begin dying in gruesome and mysterious ways.
The series continues Ryan Murphy’s exploration of the complex world of plastic surgery and image, a theme he previously tackled in his breakthrough work, Nip/Tuck. Murphy describes The Beauty as a commentary on “Ozempic culture,” reflecting society’s obsession with physical appearance and the extremes people go to achieve it.
Comparisons to Demi Moore’s Work
With the release of the trailer, fans have drawn comparisons between The Beauty and Demi Moore’s recent work in The Substance. Commenters on social media have noted the similarities in themes, with one user remarking, “So this the TV version of the movie Substance?”
The body horror genre, which dates back to Mary Shelley’s 1818 classic Frankenstein, has seen a resurgence in popularity. Coralie Fargeat’s Oscar-winning film The Substance brought renewed attention to the genre, particularly as a means of commenting on Hollywood’s vanity. Moore’s performance in the film was widely celebrated, earning her a Golden Globe, Critics Choice Awards, and her first Oscar nomination.
Interestingly, Moore was married to Kutcher from 2005 to 2013, adding a layer of intrigue to the comparisons between their respective projects. Moore also worked with Ryan Murphy on the 2024 production Feud: Capote vs The Swans.
The Star-Studded Cast of The Beauty
The Beauty boasts an impressive cast, with frequent Murphy collaborator Evan Peters playing FBI agent Cooper Madsen, who is investigating the outbreak of The Beauty virus. Rebecca Hall stars as his partner, Jordan Bennett.
Kutcher takes on the role of The Corporation, a power-hungry tech billionaire responsible for releasing The Beauty virus and willing to eliminate anyone who stands in his way. Anthony Ramos plays his enforcer, known simply as “the Assassin.”
Jeremy Pope plays Jeremy, an unrelated character who becomes the central figure through whose perspective the epidemic is shown. Isabella Rossellini appears in the recurring role of Franny Forst.
The series also features a stellar list of guest stars, including Amelia Gray Hamlin, Bella Hadid, Ben Platt, Billy Eichner, Lux Pascal, Meghan Trainor, Nicola Peltz Beckham, Peter Gallagher, and more.
Release Date
The Beauty is set to premiere on FX and FX on Hulu on January 21, 2026. The first three episodes will be released simultaneously, followed by weekly episode releases until March.
For more information, visit the official FX website.
